The Animal House

Now it is time to address the menagerie we acquired while living in the Mojave Desert.

Jigaboo was the name given to our first dog -- a mixed black and white collie-haired dog.  It was not us that named this dog!  It was either my grandfather or great grandfather who named her.  She was acquired when I was just a baby and was my personal protector.  Jigaboo adjusted quickly to her new life in the country.

Then comes the chickens!!!  One of my chores  -- feeding them and gathering the eggs.  This was not a favorite past time for me!  Ever walked barefoot in a chicken coop with chicken poop squishing between your toes?  (Wearing shoes was just out of the question!  Too confining!)  Once the chicken feed was served, then began the battle of the water can!  The water can consisted of a tall metal canister which was filled with water.  A lid was fit onto the canister, then you flipped it over very, very quickly.  A small trough was then available to the chickens and the water replenished itself as they drank.  The only problem with this method...if the lid was not on tight, it would end up with the whole thing coming apart with water gushing out.  Back to filling it up again!!!  So frustrating!

Dear old Billy goat!!!  Yes, we were goat owners for awhile.  The biggest problem with them was just feeding them!  If I turned my back, look out!!!  They jumped on my back!!!  And they were big trouble makers!  Every opportunity that presented itself, they would escape...favorite place to go...jumping on top of our car!!!

One summer, donkeys and little burros were residing in our fields as a courtesy to the Boy Scout troop.  Fortunately,  this was not a chore for me!  However, it was entertainment for my brother, Brian, as he tried to ride one of the burros.  Only problem, no saddle, no bridle and he would slide right off the back end of the animal!

And then there were 24...cats!  Babies having babies all the time!  Don't worry...they did not live in the house!  They caught mice and other little critters.  When we would get attached to one specific cat, then something would happen.  Some of them liked to crawl up in the warm engine of the car after it had been driven.  If we forgot to check the engine and started the car, Daddy was digging a hole in Cat Cemetary.

Another mode of demise for the cats was the mower.  They loved to hunt in the tall alfalfa but were not smart enough to skedaddle out of the field when Daddy came through with the mower.  The mower consisted of a long blade with triangular cutting teeth.  It was lowered flat on the ground to cut the alfalfa.    Another dip in the cat population!! Rabbits also fell victim to the mower.

Desert tortoises would visit us occasionally and sit on our front porch.  I recall one day when I was on the front porch and Mama inquired about the tortoises.  I replied that I had no idea where they were, not realizing that I was sitting right beside one with my arm propped on its back!!!!  Obviously, I was day dreaming!

Horny toad lizards were sometimes our little pets for a few days whenever we found them in the dirt.  We would put them in a shoebox and feed them for a few days and then let them go.

Parakeets added to the chore list as well and that was another tedious job...take out the bottom pan, put new paper in, give them water and food.  And hope they did not get out and fly around, pooping all over the house!

Last but not least, the desert snakes!!!!!  Sometimes we would see a black king snake.  These were a good thing to have around as they kept the rattlesnakes away.  I recall one rattlesnake found on the ranch on the side of my grandparents apartment.  Hearing stories or seeing one (dead usually!), gave me nightmares!  We quickly learned to watch where we were going and listen for the rattle.  This stood me in good stead many years later when we lived in Africa.  Except...the deadly snakes there do not have rattles!!!  I was forever telling myself to remember they didn't rattle and be very, very observant.